CHAPTER 21
Two people with clashing auras, even just getting slightly closer, would create sparks.
Yunmiao and Fang Tian Tian, the two little girls, didn't understand anything and happily greeted each other while nestling in the arms of Chu Yu and Fang Suqing, respectively. Shu Yanyan, on the other hand, was so overwhelmed by the sudden stagnant anger around her that she forgot to speak.
It was Chu Yu who broke the awkwardness by taking the initiative to speak.
Naturally, she stood behind Shu Yanyan, assuming the role of the other female head of the family, and smiled at Fang Suqing. "Hello."
Fang Suqing didn't respond but lowered her head to look at Shu Yanyan.
"Yanyan, this person is..."
Shu Yanyan finally regained her senses. "Ah, this, this person is..."
She took a deep breath. "This is... the friend I mentioned to you on the phone, who is coming together with us today."
"I see." Fang Suqing observed Chu Yu for a moment and then extended her hand. "Hello."
As they lightly shook hands, there was a distinct sound of electric current crackling in the air.
Shu Yanyan cleated her throat and suggested, "Now that everyone is here, let's go over there to register for admission. We also need to allocate time to set up the booths inside."
Chu Yu nodded. "Hmm, we'll follow your lead."
Shu Yanyan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, turned around, and took the lead in guiding them. "The registration point is over there, follow me."
The two of them obediently followed.
Although the little girls in their arms were eager to interact with each other, even sticking out half of their bodies from their respective embraces, Chu Yu and Fang Suqing maintained an unspoken agreement to maintain a strict social distance, drawing an uncrossable "galaxy" for little Yunmiao and Fang Tian Tian.
It was fortunate that the two children were well-raised, otherwise tears would have probably been shed on the spot.
Upon realizing that it was impossible to hold hands with her best friend, little Yunmiao obediently retreated into Chu Yu's embrace. She felt a bit confused, but she didn't ask any questions and behaved well.
Chu Yu caressed her hair and gently kissed her forehead, leaning down, then whispered "Good girl."
Yunmiao hugged her neck and smiled obediently at her.
On the other side, Shu Yanyan had already started the admission registration process.
During the step of entering the names, she suddenly realized that Chu Yu couldn't use her real name. So, after thinking for a moment, she skipped Chu Yu and entered the information of Fang Suqing and Fang Tian Tian first. After entering the data, Fang Suqing stepped forward with Fang Yuanyuan to confirm their identities, and thus successfully completed the registration.
Shu Yanyan registered their relationship as "Friends" for herself and Fang Tian Tian.
When it was Chu Yu's turn, she waved her over and quietly asked, "What name should I write?"
Chu Yu leaned over to her ear and whispered, "I can't use my real name. Should I write a temporary one?"
Shu Yanyan nodded.
Chu Yu smiled.
She walked up to the registration screen, holding Yunmiao with one hand, and used her free hand to enter two characters on the screen.
[Shu Qing].
In that instant, Shu Yanyan felt like her head had been struck forcefully. Every little moment of her past interactions with her wife flashed before her eyes, overlapping with the Emperor before her, who was intimately holding Yunmiao. It gave her a sense of temporal disorientation.
But the presence of the other person inexplicably gave her a sense of security, preventing her from getting lost in the midst of this chaos.
When she snapped out of it, Chu Yu had already completed the registration and entered "Mother-Daughter" in the relationship column for herself and Shu Yunmiao.
Shu Yanyan didn't know how she did it, but somehow, that piece of information passed the machine's verification, allowing Chu Yu to smoothly complete the registration process.
She hurriedly approached, feeling helpless, and asked, "Wha-what's going on?"
Chu Yu raised her index finger to her lips and whispered, "Shh..."
Shu Yanyan widened her eyes. "This can't be brushed off with just a 'shh'!"
To her surprise, Yunmiao joined Chu Yu in trying to appease Shu Yanyan.
Taking a cue from Chu Yu, Yunmiao lifted her chubby finger to her nose and softly said, "Mommy, shh..."
Shu Yanyan was left speechless.
Unfortunately, there were too many people around, and she couldn't have a scene on the spot. She could only swallow her doubts and anxieties, her face turning red as she turned around and walked towards the venue.
Fang Suqing, who was next to them, naturally witnessed the scene.
She looked at Chu Yu, her eyebrows furrowing deeply.
Chu Yu pretended not to notice, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. Holding Yunmiao, she passed by Fang Suqing and followed after Shu Yanyan.
Shu Yanyan arrived at the activity area of Yunmiao's class and met with her homeroom teacher to start setting up their small booth.
She opened the food safety box and took out the cream-filled cookies that she and Yunmiao had made together.
Chu Yu put Yunmiao down and walked forward to offer her help, but as soon as she approached, Shu Yanyan stared at her.
Chu Yu: "...I can help you arrange the cookies."
"No need," Shu Yanyan coldly declined.
She was still upset about what had just happened, as it went beyond her understanding and expectations.
Chu Yu felt a bit guilty and helplessly rubbed her nose. "Then... should I watch over Yunmiao?"
Shu Yanyan didn't respond and kept busy, lowering her head.
At that moment, Fang Suqing walked over.
She bent her knees and looked down at the assortment of cookies on the booth, suddenly smiled. "Did Yunmiao squeeze the cream for these?"
Shu Yanyan looked up at her. "Is it that obvious?"
Fang Suqing's gaze was gentle. "Of course. Because I'm certain that if it were made by you, it wouldn't look like this."
But she quickly added, "However, considering Yunmiao is so young, it's already impressive for her to achieve this level. When she has a little more strength, her skills will definitely surpass yours."
Who could refuse someone who showered compliments on their own little daughter?
Shu Yanyan's gloomy mood seemed to be illuminated by a ray of bright sunshine, instantly becoming clear again.
She smiled and replied, "The teacher said it's best for parents and children to make the product together, so I let her decorate the cream. She has made great progress. The cream she initially squeezed out was a mess."
Fang Suqing replied, "That's how children are and it's because her mommy is a good teacher." she added jokingly.
Shu Yanyan felt a little embarrassed. "It's not really..."
Fang Suqing took the opportunity to make a request, jokingly, "Speaking of which, I've never tried piping cream before. Is there a chance for me to give it a try this time?"
She playfully said, "Maybe I won't be as good as Yunmiao when I do it. I wouldn't be qualified to make fun of the little girl then."
Chu Yu, standing by the side, observed their interaction.
She had already figured out that Fang Suqing was definitely not an ordinary person. With just a few words, she displayed strong social skills and profound cultivation. Shu Yanyan had no guard up at all and was like an open book in front of her.
However, this little clueless one had no idea what hidden thoughts lay beneath the polite smile of the person in front of her.
To protect her princess from the evil sorcerer's temptation, Chu Yu took a step forward and stood by Shu Yanyan's side.
Chu Yu's chose her position so cunningly, almost completely hiding Shu Yanyan behind her own figure, not giving Fang Suqing even a glimpse of her.
"No chance." Chu Yu squinted her eyes and interjected, "We can only buy pre-made ones."
In a corner hidden from Shu Yanyan's view, the two engaged in another silent battle with their gazes, ultimately turning their heads away disdainfully.
Shu Yanyan realized what was happening and angrily nudged Chu Yu's arm. "What are you doing?"
Chu Yu leaned her body, struggling to poke her head and waving arms out from behind her, facing Fang Suqing. "Yes, we have them."
Chu Yu reached out to grab Shu Yanyan's wrist but didn't stop the kind-hearted little princess from being ensnared by the evil sorcerer's temptation.
Shu Yanyan even had no intention to care about Chu Yu restraining her and continued to introduce to Fang Suqing, "We have two types of products. One is pre-decorated cream cookies, and the other is undecorated ones that customers can DIY on the spot."
Fang Suqing remained silent, her gaze falling on Chu Yu's hand that was holding onto Shu Yanyan's wrist.
Shu Yanyan finally noticed this and began to struggle.
In a low voice, she glared up at Chu Yu, saying, "Let go of me quickly."
Chu Yu replied, "I won't let go."
Shu Yanyan gritted her teeth, "What are you trying to do?"
Chu Yu relaxed her grip and loosely held onto her wrist. "I'm just holding onto it, not bothering you."
Shu Yanyan blushed again.
She was furious.
If it weren't for the inappropriate situation, she would have even wanted to lift Chu Yu's hand to her mouth and take a bite.
After taking a deep breath, Shu Yanyan forcefully pulled her hand back.
Chu Yu didn't dare to push her too much and naturally let go of her hand.
Shu Yanyan curled her lips and bypassed Chu Yu, directly turning to Fang Suqing to continue the introduction. "The cookies on the stall are already decorated, but there are some in the box that haven't been frosted yet. Customers can freely decorate them as they wish. However, you'll have to wait a bit. I haven't prepared the materials since you just arrived."
Fang Suqing also snapped back to reality and ignored Chu Yu, smiling as she responded, "Your skills have never disappointed anyone. I'll take one box of each."
Shu Yanyan quickly waved her hand. "That won't do. Today, Yunmiao invited you both. How can I charge you!"
"I'll give them to you and Tian Tian for free." she added.
Fang Suqing smiled and reminded her, "Today's sales are crucial for Yunmiao's class competition and the subsequent charity donations. If you want to thank me, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. There's need to rush at this moment."
Shu Yanyan was convinced and said, "Well, okay then."
She smiled and said, "I'll prepare the cream for you. Just wait a moment."
Fang Suqing nodded, "Sure, take your time."
The cookies were almost ready, and Shu Yanyan turned around to start preparing the cream.
The cream was a semi-finished product that needed to be mixed with edible food coloring to create colorful decorations.
Chu Yu volunteered, "Do you need help with coloring? I can assist you."
Shu Yanyan: "..."
Even though Chu Yu was right beside her, she completely ignored her and focused on her work.
Chu Yu's heart "thumped."
She knew that this time, she had truly annoyed the person.
Earlier, even when Shu Yanyan was angry, she wouldn't completely ignore Chu Yu. But now, she treated Chu Yu like an invisible wall, not only avoiding any interaction, but also pretending not to hear her words.
Chu Yu started to feel a headache.
She cautiously approached Shu Yanyan and tried to pick up a bottle of food coloring.
"I.. can I use this color? Is it okay?" Chu Yu asked.
Shu Yanyan: "..."
Chu Yu took a deep breath, took a bowl of white cream, and dropped two drops of the color into it. She then began to stir with a tool.
This task wasn't particularly complicated, and even if Shu Yanyan didn't teach her, she could have done it properly.
But gradually, she realized something was off.
The small bottle of coloring Shu Yanyan had prepared wasn't labeled with the color, as it had been transferred from a larger container. Generally, before dilution, the coloring appeared close to black.
After stirring for a few moments, Chu Yu suddenly realized that the color she had casually picked up happened to be green.
So now, she stood by Shu Yanyan's side, holding a bowl of bright green cream in her arms, feeling lost and even a bit bewildered.
Outside the stall, Fang Suqing curled her lips into a cold smirk.
Her mocking sound of "heh" was mixed in with the bustling background noise of the fair, but Chu Yu, with her keen senses, caught it precisely.
Her grip on the cream became heavier as she stirred, scraping the bottom of the bowl with each motion.
When one is agitated, accidents are prone to happen.
Because she applied too much force, during one particular motion, a small glob of cream, due to inertia, broke away from the main mass and splattered directly onto her face.
Although most of it was blocked by the face mask she wore, a few droplets still landed around the corner of her eye.
The commotion wasn't small, and Shu Yanyan, who had been focused on her work with her head down, lifted her head in surprise to look at Chu Yu.
Chu Yu: "..."
If there was a crack on the ground right now at that moment, she would without hesitation dive into it and disappear at the speed of light in front of Shu Yanyan.
However, Shu Yanyan only paused for a moment.
As someone who had worked in dessert kitchens for several years, this "little mishap" was not enough to catch her attention. When Shu Qing helped her in the past, she was also a mess, spilling not only cream but even knocking over several buckets of fresh milk.
This person was competent in various aspects, but ironically, when it came to her expertise, she seemed a bit clueless.
For some reason, as Shu Yanyan thought about this, she softened again.
She picked up a wet wipe from the side and reached out her hand, intending to help Chu Yu wipe off the green cream from her face mask and around her eyes.
But as her hand extended, Shu Yanyan suddenly snapped back to reality.
This gesture was a bit too intimate. She should have handed the wet wipe to Chu Yu so she could clean it herself!
Chu Yu reacted quickly and noticed her hesitation.
She lowered her head slightly and said, "I can't see. Please help me."
With a "legitimate reason" given, Shu Yanyan continued with her actions.
"You're welcome." she replied.
Chu Yu let out a sigh of relief.
At least she was willing to talk to her now.
In that instant, as she looked at the green cream in her hand, it suddenly seemed much more pleasing to her eyes.
Of course, Chu Yu wouldn't let this opportunity slip by and continued the pursuit, saying, "Don't be mad at me."
Shu Yanyan put her hand down and avoided looking at Chu Yu. "I wouldn't dare to be mad at you."
"Just by saying that, it means you're mad." Chu Yu thought for a moment and started to play the pitiful card. "Around me... everyone either fears me or has ulterior motives because of my status. I rarely come across friends with whom I can have a normal, equal relationship."
"Maybe that's why my personality isn't particularly good. But you can teach me, and I'll learn well. As long as you tell me, I won't make the same mistakes, and I won't make you angry anymore, okay?"
Shu Yanyan finally looked up at her.
Despite wearing a face mask, Chu Yu's pair of moist eyes were filled with affectionate emotions, almost overwhelming. With just a glance, Shu Yanyan immediately averted her gaze.
She whispered, "I... I'm just a little bothered... about what you and Yunmiao are conspiring about, as if trying to exclude me."
Chu Yu threw her teammate under the bus, saying, "No, um... Speaking of which, it's probably Yunmiao who doesn't want you to overthink things."
Shu Yanyan widened her eyes. "It was her idea?"
Chu Yu nodded. "She was being gossiped about at school... Once, unable to bear it, she lied that her mother had come back. The other person didn't believe her and asked to meet at the fair."
"It's because of that, that I wanted to play... play the role of 'Shu Qing' for a day."
Shu Yanyan froze on the spot.
She had always known that the little boy who had clashed with Yunmiao before, and had ongoing conflicts with her daughter, had caused some friction. At one point, Shu Yanyan even considered transferring Yunmiao to another school.
But evidently, such matters couldn't be perfectly avoided just by transferring schools. This world wasn't a beautiful greenhouse, and there was always a chance of encountering a few troublemakers anywhere.
Fortunately, the majority of the children in nursery were very cute, and Yunmiao got along well with her classmates. Moreover, several teachers assured her that they would pay attention to keeping that little boy away from Yunmiao. So Shu Yanyan temporarily set her worries aside.
Not to mention, they also had little Guan Guan, the intelligent virtual pet, with them. Yunmiao wouldn't be harmed at all.
But no matter how many precautions one takes, there are some things that can't be prevented.
Thinking of this, Shu Yanyan felt a slight pang in her heart.
She couldn't blame Yunmiao at all—
A child who was forced to be separated from her mother when she was still an innocent baby, just to satisfy a small vanity, requesting a big sister she liked to pretend to be her mother. What's wrong with that?
Shu Yanyan's eyes were moist.
"...Thank you for being willing to play along with her in this act." she said.
Chu Yu observed her expression. "Don't be sad. I didn't intend to make you feel upset."
Shu Yanyan shook her head.
She sniffed, "In these past two years, I... I've been trying very hard to make up for it. I hope to give Yunmiao double the love, to compensate for the love from her other mother. But I know it's impossible."
She smiled again, "Fortunately, she has always been sensible, and I don't need to worry."
She looked up at Chu Yu. "Really, thank you for agreeing to her request."
Chu Yu was momentarily distracted.
She couldn't help but ask, "Have you ever considered... giving her a real mother she can rely on?"
Shu Yanyan's gaze became somewhat hollow. "I... I don't know. Perhaps you're right. I should look forward."
In the past, she held her breath because she didn't know if Shu Qing was safe and was determined to find her.
But now...
Knowing that her Shu Qing was actually doing well, maybe she should let go of those obsessions and consider herself and Yunmiao.
Chu Yu, seeing her expression, gently took hold of her hand. "Actually..."
Before she could finish her sentence, a call came from behind them, "Miss Shu."
Chu Yu and Shu Yanyan turned around.
They initially thought Fang Suqing was calling for Shu Yanyan, but she was actually looking at Chu Yu. Fang Suqing didn't know Chu Yu's real name, only remembered that she had entered "Shu Qing" when registering, so she temporarily referred to her as such.
Fang Suqing continued, "Miss Shu, please don't cause any more trouble for Yanyan. I heard that Yunmiao is looking for you. Are you going to go and see her?"
Chu Yu put down her bowl.
Chu Yu realized that it was not the right time to continue the conversation, so she interrupted herself and quietly said to Shu Yanyan, "I'll go and see." Then she left the stall.
After she left, Shu Yanyan brought the prepared cream to Fang Suqing.
She was somewhat worried. "Is something wrong with Yunmiao?"
Fang Suqing smiled. "Don't worry. Yunmiao is very well-behaved. If something is wrong, she will come and tell you."
Shu Yanyan nodded. "You're right."
Fang Suqing glanced at her and tentatively asked, "Is that Miss really your friend?"
"Although the main star has good security, there are still some scammers and thieves... You're living alone with Yunmiao, so you need to be careful."
Shu Yanyan didn't realize that there was an underlying meaning in her words and nodded, saying, "Yes, don't worry. I know."
Fang Suqing continued, "The residential area where you currently live is not very convenient. I have a property in the Fangyao District, and I'm looking for tenants. After the fair, why don't you and Yunmiao move there?"
Shu Yanyan was surprised. "Ah? No, it's not necessary."
She knew about the Fangyao District. It was a famous wealthy area in the Imperial Star, and the term "every inch of land is worth its weight in gold" was an understatement to describe the high property prices there.
Fang Suqing sighed, neither lightly nor heavily. "If you move there, we can be closer to each other. You know, I'm usually busy with work and can't always take care of you."
Shu Yanyan's mind went blank for a moment.
Even if she was slow to catch on, at this moment, she could sense that Fang Suqing's concern for her was somewhat excessive.
She avoided the other person's gaze and politely declined, "No, there's no need to trouble you. Yunmiao and I are living well where we are."
Fang Suqing's eyes dimmed slightly, and she didn't insist further.
"Alright, I understand. Anyway, my invitation is always open. Contact me whenever you need anything."
Shu Yanyan smiled politely and changed the subject.
"The cream is ready. You can try it. It's actually not difficult."
Fang Suqing nodded and reached for the piping bag on the table.
Meanwhile, Shu Yanyan felt a sense of unease and shifted her gaze towards the center of the fairgrounds.
A minute ago, Chu Yu found little Yunmiao among the children in the crowd.
She had just intended to go and retrieve her, but as she approached, she overheard their conversation.
"Yunmiao, is that your mother?"
"Yes!"
"Why is she wearing a black mask?""
...Because she looks cool!"
"But this way, we can't see what she looks like."
Yunmiao put her hands on her hips and proudly declared, "My mom looks especially beautiful!"
Chu Yu chuckled.
She walked over and crouched down, still needing to lower her head to meet the gaze of these children.
"Are you looking for me?"
Little Yunmiao nodded.
She ran back to Chu Yu's side and eagerly clung to her, eventually with Chu Yu's help, managing to sit on Chu Yu's arm.
Then, she turned around and announced to all her little friends, "This is my mom!"
Although they didn't know what was so amazing about it, the children were all very polite and let out an astonished "Wow."
Chu Yu played along and waved to greet them.
"Hello, everyone. Make sure to get along well with Yunmiao."
One of the children nodded.
It was evident that he was quite brave as he stepped out of the crowd and looked at Chu Yu, asking, "The snacks that Yunmiao brought for us, did you make them, Auntie?"
Chu Yu shook her head. "No, it wasn't me. They were made by Yunmiao's other mother."
She gestured towards the stall. "She's over there. If you like those little snacks, you can go and buy some cookies."
The children laughed and clapped their hands.
Amidst the cheerful atmosphere, Chu Yu suddenly felt a gaze that didn't quite fit in with the warmth around her.
She turned her head and made eye contact with a slightly older boy.
The boy realized he had been noticed, but instead of feeling guilty, he disdainfully pursed his lips, turned his head, and walked away.
Yunmiao also noticed him.
She hugged Chu Yu's neck and whispered, "Don't play with him."
Chu Yu immediately understood. "He's the one who often mocks you, right?"
Yunmiao pouted and nodded with a hint of grievance.
But she quickly cheered up. "But the teacher will criticize him, and Guan Guan will help me too."
Chu Yu stood up while holding her in her arms. "I see. So, he's a donkey that never change its call?"
Yunmiao tilted her head. "A donkey never change its call... What does that mean?"
Chu Yu smiled.
She gently patted Yunmiao's head. "It means he hasn't learned his lesson even after being scolded. I'll take you over to say hello to him."
Yunmiao widened her eyes and buried her head in Chu Yu's neck, softly protesting, "I don't want to!"
Chu Yu patted her back. "He doesn't like you. Even if you prove to him that you're not a child abandoned by your mother, he'll find another excuse to continue attacking you next time. Let's go talk to him and reason with him."
Yunmiao felt a little distressed. "But he doesn't listen to reason."
Chu Yu smiled. "Everyone can be reasoned with, as long as you use the right approach."
She reassured her, "Don't worry, Yunmiao is a brave child. Besides, I'll be with you every step of the way."
Yunmiao looked at Chu Yu's exposed eyes.
Unlike Shu Yanyan, Chu Yu had slender eyes that exuded determination. Staring into those eyes gave a sense of reassurance and solidity.
Yunmiao clenched her little fist and nodded firmly. "Okay!"
With her consent, Chu Yu took a step forward and followed the direction the boy had left.
The young boy was not far away, in the activity area belonging to the higher-grade booths.
When they arrived, the boy was looking smug. It could be seen that his family background was considered among the best in this nursery. After all, most of the children in the nursery didn't have the luxury of having a responsive simulated robot dog, and he already had one that could follow commands.
At this moment, the area in front of the boy's booth was crowded with people. His father was selling their products, simulated robotic hamsters, at an extremely low price to the surrounding parents.
It should be noted that an ordinary simulated robot would cost over a hundred thousand stars, making it a luxury item that ordinary families hesitate to buy for their children. However, at this moment, the simulated robotic hamsters being sold by the boy's father were priced at only 2,800 stars per hamster.
Although the hamsters were small in size, this price was unbelievably low.
Which parent wouldn't feel sorry for their child? They couldn't afford a hundred thousand, but 2,800 was not particularly difficult. In the blink of an eye, several parents actually took out money and bought the robots they were promoting.
In an instant, the sales of this booth skyrocketed to the top position in the amusement park.
Chu Yu took Yunmiao and watched from a distance for a while, already having a clue about what was going on.
She was about to approach and confirm her suspicions, and expose the other party's tricks when the little boy suddenly jumped in front of them.
"What are you here for?" he stared at Yunmiao in Chu Yu's arms.
Yunmiao, not the least bit intimidated, glared back without any fear. "I, I'm here to reason with you."
"Tsk!" The little boy shook his head. "There's nothing to reason with you about."
He proudly pointed to the booth behind him. "But you can ask your mother to buy you a simulated hamster. Is she really your mother? If she loves you, she would buy you a robot."
"I love her, of course." Chu Yu took over the conversation.
The little boy nodded. "Then buy her a couple more."
Chu Yu couldn't help but laugh at his remark.
However, the smile didn't reach her eyes, and to the boy's eyes, her gaze became colder.
"I love her, so I won't buy her counterfeit goods."
Chu Yu didn't want to argue with a child. She bypassed him and walked straight to the booth.
The salesman, thinking she was another customer, became even more enthusiastic in his sales pitch.
Chu Yu stopped a parent who had just made a purchase and was about to leave. She spoke up, "Are you selling simulated robots?"
The man nodded. "Yes! The latest technology, small in size, but powerful in functionality. Madam, buy one for your little girl."
Chu Yu asked, "The latest technology? Why is the price so low?"
The man smiled. "Well, the price is indeed favorable. I'm selling at a loss for charity."
"But the quantity is limited, once sold out, it's over! If you miss it today, well, cough, no worries, leave me your contact information, and you can contact me privately for a purchase later!"
Chu Yu replied, "Oh?"
"This product has undergone some technological limitations. It may not be as intelligent as regular simulated robots, but it's perfect for accompanying and protecting your child. No issues at all!" The man picked up a simulated hamster. "I won't mention the interactive conversation feature; many parents just witnessed it. The most crucial thing is that our product can provide protection to your child when they are in danger."
He held up the hamster and shouted at a nearby dummy model, "Go!"
As soon as he uttered the command, the hamster indeed darted out like it was flying and bit onto the dummy's nose, refusing to let go.
Immediately, some parents exclaimed, "That's not bad! If a child encounters danger, it could at least buy some time."
Chu Yu sneered.
She walked up to the dummy model, pulled the hamster off, and then found a switch underneath it, pressing it.
Then, she turned the hamster towards the man and shouted, "Go."
To everyone's surprise, the hamster flew straight towards the salesman and bit onto his nose.
The man was startled and frantically tried to remove the hamster from his face.
He looked at Chu Yu angrily and said, "What are you doing? Are you intentionally attacking me?"
Chu Yu calmly replied, "Three years ago, a small tech company developed a type of children's toy that was later forced off the market due to its aggressive nature. You've just repackaged that thing and used it to deceive people?"
The man was momentarily stunned and retorted, "You're talking nonsense. I'm not..."
Chu Yu continued, "You want to use this thing to protect children? It doesn't have any child identification binding. Once a bad person takes it away, it will become their weapon. What similarity does this thing have with the children's simulated robots on the market?"
Her words immediately caused a stir among the surrounding parents who had been watching the demonstration. They hadn't personally operated the product and now, seeing Chu Yu expose tha man's trickery, they were relieved that they hadn't fallen for it.
The crowd immediately responded with skeptical voices:
"No wonder! I felt that those people who made quick purchases earlier were too decisive. They must have been your accomplices."
"There were only twenty of them at the booth. If anyone who wants them has to contact you privately. Aren't you just using this as a gimmick for the fair, trying to deceive people into giving you money privately?"
"And another thing, I was just about to say, the fair requires parents and children to make things together, but yours doesn't comply with the regulations at all!"
....
The parents in the crowd awakened to the situation and began berating the man, leaving him no room to defend himself.
The little boy who had mocked Yunmiao and his mother earlier, along with his mother, arrived upon hearing the commotion. However, they couldn't withstand the collective condemnation and dared not speak up.
Eventually, someone called the person in charge of the nursery, and after hearing the situation, they sent someone to remove the booth. Upon seeing this, the onlookers dispersed.
Unfortunately, the park management didn't have the courage to directly expel the boy and his family. They only revoked their booth privileges.
The boy's father approached Chu Yu, his face darkened. "Obstructing someone's path to wealth is like killing their parents. Are you someone who makes a living on that path?"
Chu Yu said, "What? You still want to challenge me?"
The boy's father sneered, "Are you backing down now?"
Chu Yu shook her head. "Well, I don't want to have a conflict with you inside the nursery either."
She gave him an address and said, "If you're not satisfied, go to this place and say you're looking for '001'."
The boy's father pointed his finger at her. "You wait and see."
The little boy imitated him and made a face at Yunmiao in Chu Yu's arms. "Just wait and see!"
Yunmiao was momentarily stunned, but quickly puffed up her cheeks.
Being held in Chu Yu's arms, she wasn't afraid at all and confidently declared, "Hmph, you're the big frauds! I'll wait and see, I'm not scared."
Chu Yu wasn't typically one to engage in verbal battles, and she didn't expect the little girl to have such a strong attitude. She couldn't help but be amused.
She pinched Yunmiao's cheek and said, "You're awesome!"
Yunmiao blushed and buried her head in Chu Yu's chest, feeling a bit shy.
With the situation resolved, Chu Yu took Yunmiao back to their own booth.
The once empty little booth was now surrounded by children. Shu Yanyan stood behind the table, busily packaging the small biscuits for the customers.
Upon seeing Chu Yu and little Yunmiao, she naturally called out, "Come and help."
Both of them nodded in response and moved forward to lend a hand.
The day passed by fulfilling and satisfyingly.
Although their small biscuit were sold at a low profit margin, they were popular throughout the day. Yunmiao's class didn't manage to secure the highest profit position. However, due to the deliciousness of their biscuits, they won the honor of being the "Most Popular Family" in the event.
Shu Yanyan and Yunmiao went on stage to receive the award. When the teacher asked Yunmiao to say a few words of thanks, Yunmiao seemed distracted, constantly glancing down towards the audience.
The teacher asked, "What's wrong, Shu Yunmiao? Don't you have any words of thanks to say?"
Yunmiao waved at Chu Yu in the audience.
Understanding her intention, Chu Yu thought for a moment, then walked towards them and stood beside Shu Yanyan, holding Yunmiao in her arms.
At that moment, they truly looked like an ordinary family of three, with no apparent differences.
Shu Yanyan's heart was pounding rapidly, and she didn't even hear what Chu Yu and the teacher said.
Today's encounters had exceeded her understanding. She couldn't imagine that the Emperor, who had been on the news all day, would one day revert to being "Shu Qing" and stand beside her, receiving the "Most Popular Family" award together.
It felt like a beautiful dream.
Yunmiao was finally satisfied. When the teacher asked her to give a speech of thanks again, she approached the microphone and sweetly said, "I, I want to say..."
She glanced back at Shu Yanyan and Chu Yu, then continued, "I love Mommy! And I love Mom too! I, I hope we can always be together."
Her words had nothing to do with a thank you speech, but since the audience consisted mostly of parents, they were almost overwhelmed by this declaration.
Even the composed Chu Yu couldn't help herself and kissed Yunmiao on the top of her head while on stage.
She increasingly felt that although Yunmiao wasn't her biological child, their souls resonated on the same frequency.
She also hoped—
The three of them could truly become a family and be together forever.
Unfortunately, this beautiful fantasy was shattered after they stepped off the stage. Fang Suqing appeared and pulled Shu Yanyan back to reality. She blushed and took Yunmiao into her arms, politely but distantly saying, "Thank you," to Chu Yu.
Chu Yu pursed her lips. "No need to thank me."
Shu Yanyan seemed a bit flustered as she walked forward while holding Yunmiao.
Chu Yu caught up to them, intending to accompany them home, but she was refused.
Shu Yanyan said, "Suqing and I have already agreed that she will take us home tonight, so you don't need to trouble yourself."
She gently touched Yunmiao's hair. "Yunmiao, say goodbye to Big Sister and thank her."
Yunmiao clearly didn't want to leave Chu Yu, but she was obedient enough. In response to Shu Yanyan's request, she nodded and then looked at Chu Yu, saying, "Goodbye, Big... Big Sister."
Chu Yu stood frozen in place, unable to do anything but watch them leave in Fang Suqing's car.
Back at home, Fang Suqing didn't immediately leave.
The two children and Guan Guan were playing in the house, while Fang Suqing invited Shu Yanyan to step outside for some fresh air.
Under the moonlight, the two figures, one tall and one short, appeared somewhat harmonious.
Fang Suqing spoke first, "It's evident that Yunmiao really needs a mother."
She already knew that Chu Yu was impersonating someone else.
Shu Yanyan looked at the ground. "I must have looked ridiculous."
Fang Suqing turned around and reached out to hold Shu Yanyan's shoulders. Shu Yanyan paused for a moment, then reluctantly lifted her head to look at her.
Fang Suqing said, "There's something I think you've already noticed. Yanyan, I've always... liked you."
Faced with this sudden confession, Shu Yanyan didn't know how to react. She stood there dumbfounded for several seconds. After regaining her senses, she foolishly replied, "Tha-thank you..."
Fang Suqing chuckled at her response. "I'm not asking you to thank me... What about your thoughts?"
"What... what thoughts?" Shu Yanyan stammered.
Fang Suqing took a deep breath. "How do you see me? Do you think we have a chance to be together?"
Shu Yanyan finally regained some clarity. "I'm sorry, Suqing, I..."
"Hush!" Fang Suqing interrupted her. "I know this is sudden for you, but I don't want to hear your hasty answer."
She continued, "We are a good match, both single parents raising children on our own. Coincidentally, whether it's Yunmiao or Tian Tian, they both have a strong affection for both of us adults."
"Yanyan, I feel like it's fate's arrangement."
Shu Yanyan couldn't find the words to respond.
Fang Suqing continued, "That person has been missing for a long time. According to the Empire's regulations, a declaration of death will soon be made. I'm sorry for bringing this up, but what I mean is, I hope you have thoughts for yourself and Yunmiao."
"I am more than willing to be the person who takes care of both of you."
"At the same time, I am confident that I can do better than that person. I won't let you live in the chaotic Federation, and I won't suddenly disappear from your lives."
Shu Yanyan lowered her head.
She felt a sense of unease, but surprisingly, she couldn't refute Fang Suqing's words.
Even if she didn't consider herself, she couldn't ignore the fact that Yunmiao truly longed for a mother.
"So..." Fang Suqing pleaded, "Please consider it? Take your time to think about it."
She made a promise, "I will wait for you."
Shu Yanyan remained silent.
Under the moonlight, she slowly lifted her head, looked at Fang Suqing, and suddenly said, "Thank you, Suqing..."
.....
Chu Yu hid in the shadows, watching Fang Suqing's car drive away.
She didn't know what she was doing. If someone had told her before today that she would sneakily hide outside her beloved person's residential area and spy on them, she would have twisted that person's head off.
But at this moment, she couldn't control herself at all.
Before Fang Suqing left, Shu Yanyan briefly embraced her by the car. That short moment was enough to drive Chu Yu to lose her sanity.
After watching Fang Suqing leave, Shu Yanyan walked back home alone.
She silently collected herself because Yunmiao and Xiao Fei Jiu were waiting for her at home. She needed to regain her composure quickly and not let the children worry about her.
But suddenly, she felt someone pull her, and then both of them hid in the nearby bushes.
Shu Yanyan wanted to scream, but her mouth was covered. Amidst the panic, she calmed herself down and realized that the person "kidnapping" her was Chu Yu, whom she thought had already left.
Shu Yanyan asked, "How... how are you here?"
Chu Yu gently tidied her disheveled hair while her face, now unmasked, wore a somewhat indifferent expression.
She didn't answer Shu Yanyan's question; instead, she asked in return, "Do you think I've always been like a gentleman?"
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